Jenny McCarthy, 40, made her first host appearance today on ABC's "The View," kicking off the show's 17th season, admitting that she got a little help in calming her nerves from someone special.

Donnie Wahlberg, 44, was booked to come on "The View" later in the month, but the new host convinced the "Blue Bloods" actor to move his appearance up a few weeks. She said just his presence on the set paid off.

"When I got to see him today, I felt like I could sit back and relax," she told ABC News.

Wahlberg didn't just get the nod of approval from co-host Sherri Shepherd, who sported an "I [Heart] Donnie" shirt, but McCarthy said the most important man in her life, her son Evan, 11, also approved.

The New Kids on the Block singer has met McCarthy's son only once, but she said the hangout went amazingly.

"They caught frogs together," McCarthy said of the bonding experience. "Evan was like, 'See you later mom. We're gonna catch frogs,' and that was that."

McCarthy has a creek in her backyard, where she said her son's favorite thing to do was to catch frogs. That means she often has some unwanted house guests.

The former "Singled Out" host said that in addition to his being great with Evan, Wahlberg can't stop telling his talented new girlfriend how proud he is of her.

"He says it every day, 'I'm so proud of you, it's so amazing,'" she said.

On today's show, Wahlberg spilled the beans to Shepherd, Barbara Walters and Whoopi Goldberg about how the couple met. They both appeared on Andy Cohen's show "Watch What Happens Live," and then Wahlberg did McCarthy's show a few months later.

"Jenny slipped her phone number to me after her show," he said. The two have been together since July 4.